Hezbollah and Amal candidates gain half the seats in Lebanon’s parliamentary election during Sunday’s general parliamentary elections.
The electoral machine of Hezbollah and Amal electoral lists, officially named as “Hope and Loyalty” lists, announced sweeping victory in South Lebanon District 2 and 3, according to preliminary statistics.
“Hope and Loyalty” lists gained all 18 seats in the two districts, the electoral machine of the two allies said on Sunday.
Upon announcing these results, celebrations began in the southern towns among supporters of Hezbollah and Amal Movement.
Hezbollah supporters drove through the streets of Baalbeck in a convoy of cars, decked out with the group's flags and photos of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The turnout in Lebanon's parliamentary election was 49.2 percent, interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said.
The result, if confirmed by the final count, would boost Hezbollah politically.
The interior minister said official results would be declared on Monday morning.
Hezbollah and groups and individuals affiliated to it secured at least 67 seats, according to a Reuters calculation based on preliminary results for nearly all the seats that were obtained from politicians and campaigns and reported in Lebanese media.
Hezbollah's allies include the Shi'ite Amal Movement led by Nabih Berri, the Christian Free Patriotic Movement established by President Michel Aoun and other groups and individuals.
